QAZAQ GREEN. On the International Day of Clean Energy, observed on January 26, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels, warning that current progress remains insufficient to meet climate goals.
In his message, Guterres said scientific evidence indicates the world is heading toward a temporary overshoot of the 1.5°C warming threshold. He stressed that governments must act to keep this breach “as small, as short, and as safe as possible” through a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition.
The Secretary-General highlighted renewable energy as the driving force of this shift, noting that renewables are now the cheapest source of new power in most regions. He pointed out that in the past year, wind, solar, and other renewable sources generated more electricity globally than coal for the first time.
According to Guterres, renewable energy plays a critical role in expanding access to electricity, providing clean cooking solutions, improving health and education outcomes, and creating jobs. He also emphasized that renewables help reduce energy costs and protect countries from geopolitical tensions and market volatility.
Despite these gains, Guterres warned that the clean energy transition is not advancing quickly or broadly enough. Grid infrastructure development is lagging behind the rapid growth of renewable capacity, while high financing costs continue to exclude many countries—particularly developing economies—from the transition.
He reiterated the need to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, calling for the removal of regulatory barriers, lower costs, and faster connections between clean power, industry, and consumers. Guterres urged regulators to adopt policies that favor clean energy while safeguarding people and the environment, and called on utilities to modernize and expand electricity grids and storage systems.
The Secretary-General also stressed the importance of diversifying clean energy supply chains, including those for critical minerals, to ensure producing countries and local communities benefit from the transition. He urged financial institutions to reduce the cost of capital, especially for developing countries, and called on multilateral development banks to unlock significantly greater private investment.
Concluding his message, Guterres подчеркнул, что энергетический переход должен быть справедливым, обеспечивая защиту работников и сообществ и создавая равные возможности по мере трансформации энергетических систем. He stated that a clean energy future is achievable if countries act decisively and collectively.
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